Building Sensor Arrays for Accurate Indoor Sensor Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in accurately determining the locations of sensor devices in a sensor array within a structure and in sensing changes to panes of glass and volumes of fluid efficiently.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a method that involves placing sensor devices and piezoelectric transducers to determine locations and sense changes by measuring natural frequencies through vibrations, including determining compass directions, elevation angles, and distances, and analyzing electric signals to detect deviations in natural frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor devices are deployed in a sensor array within a structure, then environmental monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into multiple independent sensor devices distributed throughout the structure. Each sensor device independently monitors its local environment and transmits data to a central server, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive coverage without requiring a single complex monitoring unit. This segmentation enables reliable environmental monitoring while keeping individual device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor devices are designed to perform multiple functions: environmental sensing, location determination via mobile communication devices, and wireless data transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby improving monitoring capability while controlling overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If piezoelectric transducers are used to sense changes in glass and fluid volumes, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric transducers operate by generating vibrations at specific frequencies and measuring the natural frequency responses of the glass or fluid containers. By using periodic vibration excitation rather than continuous energy input, the system achieves precise measurements of glass integrity and fluid volume while minimizing overall energy consumption. The transducer only needs to activate briefly to generate diagnostic vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses mechanical vibration generated by the piezoelectric transducer to probe the structural properties of glass and fluid volumes. By analyzing the natural frequency and damping characteristics of the vibrations, the system achieves high measurement precision for detecting glass changes and fluid levels without requiring continuous energy input, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and energy use.
3Measurement precision
If mobile communication devices determine sensor locations using compass direction and elevation angle, then location accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a mobile communication device as an intermediary to facilitate location determination. The mobile device communicates with the sensor array and base station, exchanging signals that enable triangulation and angle-based location calculation. This intermediary approach improves location accuracy by utilizing the computational capabilities and communication protocols of mobile devices without requiring the sensor array itself to become more complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with electromagnetic signal-based location determination. By using compass direction, elevation angles, and distance measurements through wireless communication signals, the system achieves high location accuracy without mechanical components, thereby improving precision while actually reducing rather than increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise location determination of sensor devices and real-time monitoring of changes in glass and fluid volumes, facilitating alerts and actions such as unlocking, illuminating exit paths, and activating fire suppression.
Implementation Method 1
converting, by the piezoelectric transducer, the first vibration of the pane of glass into a first electric signal
Implementation Method 2
activating the piezoelectric transducer for a first period of time to generate a first vibration of the pane of glass
Implementation Method 3
determining a location of the first sensor device based at least in part on the compass direction and the elevation angle from the first sensor device to the base station, and the distance between the first sensor device and the base station
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the locations of sensor devices in a sensor array in a structure is disclosed. The method may include placing a sensor device at a location. The method may also include receiving, at a mobile device, an identifier of the sensor device. The method may further include determining, by the mobile device, a compass direction and elevation angle from the sensor device to a base station. The method may additionally include determining a distance between the sensor device and the base station. The method may moreover include determining a location of the sensor device based at least in part on the compass direction and the elevation angle from the sensor device to the base station, and the distance between the sensor device and the base station. The method may furthermore include storing the location of the sensor in association with the identifier of the sensor device.